News edition for 17 September 2026. Added to Nungya on 22 October 2026 as part of our retrospective news archive. Reporting reflects information available by the edition date.

What changes when climate planning begins by listening to the people whose lives and culture are connected to a place? A new project centred on Lake Cargelligo and Murrin Bridge will explore that question with local Aboriginal communities.

Murrumbidgee Local Health District’s 17 September announcement introduces the Connect to Country project. It will work directly with Aboriginal people to understand how climate change affects their lives, culture and connection to Country, and bring that knowledge into adaptation and resilience planning.

The project was developed by the district’s Governance, Risk and Audit and Aboriginal Health teams, with Aboriginal leaders, staff and community partners. Funding comes through the NSW Health Sustainability Innovation Future Fund.

This is planning work at an early stage. The announcement does not report completed community findings or claim the effects of the project have already been measured. Its significance lies in the proposed process and the place it gives Aboriginal leadership.

Local knowledge can make broad discussion of climate change more specific: which places matter, which changes are being noticed, and which relationships need to guide a response. Following the project as it develops should offer a clearer picture of how those conversations influence practical decisions.